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News & ArtsWednesday, May 6, 2009
Sex Just One More Tragic Consequence of Teen Pregnancy
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 9:41 AM
The dreaded paying gig:
Unwed mother Bristol Palin will take part in a national campaign to help raise awareness for teen pregnancy prevention. The 18-year-old daughter of former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been appointed as a Teen Ambassador for The Candie's Foundation.... She said in a statement that she feels she could be a living example of the consequences of teen pregnancy. "If I can prevent even one girl from getting pregnant, I will feel a sense of accomplishment," she said....Maria Dolgetta, a spokeswoman for the foundation, said Palin will be paid for her appearance but declined to disclose how much.
This reminds me of the hiring practices at AIDS organizations throughout the 1990s. The only way to get a job as an HIV-prevention educator back in the day—and, shit, maybe today; I've stopped paying attention—was to get yourself infected. HIV-positive guys were paid to educate HIV-negative guys about safe sex. It was a little perverse: at the time AIDS orgs were kinda glamorous; HIV educators were perceived as slightly heroic. And the only way to get one of glamorous, heroic jobs preventing new HIV infections was to have an old infection. Guys who managed to avoid infection need not apply for HIV-prevention jobs; safe-sex strategies employed by gay guys who managed to stay negative during the worst of the epidemic weren't considered as valuable, education-wise, as the "living example of the consequences" of unsafe sex provided by HIV-positive guys.
A lot of HIV-prevention ed back then boiled down to a good-looking poz guy basically saying, "Do I say, not as I did—now let me tell you about what and who I did and how I did 'em..."
Personal stories of failure—a gay boy's failure to stay safe, a straight girl's failure to stay abstinent—always include poor impulse control and sexual risk taking and tragic consequences and that's how we prudish Americans, conservatives and liberals alike, enjoy our sex "ed." Someone succumbs, someone suffers. Success stories from the sexually active—stories that include sex along with caution and condoms and no negative consequences—don't play to our prejudices about sex and rarely lead to paying gigs.
1
Next this bitch will be on Maury getting up into girl's faces. "Do you really want to end up like ME!? Levi hates me, and now he is a, he wants be a, -sob- a, male modeeeeeeel! Why me, oh sweet Jesus and Mary?"
So is Bristol going to be finding a hubby in the near future Sarah? <<>>
So is Bristol going to be finding a hubby in the near future Sarah? <<>>
2
Reminds me of a brouhaha going on here. The Canadian National Institute of the Blind recently hired a sighted man as their new CEO. Big uproar.
4
You sound a little bitter there Dan... did you apply to be an HIV educator but get passed over for a guy who had HIV?
5
I have a mental image of her dragging Tribble or whatever its name is around by one arm, like a doll, raising it up in the air at the peak moment of her speech: "Look! And this isn't even the retarded one!"
6
I don't know if the situations are comparable, Dan. I know that when I was young and pregnant, I felt like the scum of the earth. I doubt that anyone sees a pregnant teen and equates her with being heroic or glamorous. Bristol has some other motivation.
I agree that it's screwed up that her first job (I'm guessing) is being a poster child. Or maybe it doesn't bug her, I don't know. Maybe she's not that self-aware. Or maybe she doesn't give a rat's ass and recognizes an easy paycheck. Or maybe you're right and she loves being in the spotlight, even if it's a dim spotlight that's shining on a public service announcement. I don't know, the Palins are like martians to me.
I agree that it's screwed up that her first job (I'm guessing) is being a poster child. Or maybe it doesn't bug her, I don't know. Maybe she's not that self-aware. Or maybe she doesn't give a rat's ass and recognizes an easy paycheck. Or maybe you're right and she loves being in the spotlight, even if it's a dim spotlight that's shining on a public service announcement. I don't know, the Palins are like martians to me.
7
@5 for the win!! Way to go Fnarf...
You know my mom always told me if you dont have anything nice to say dont say anthing at all... But OMFG REALLY? Bristol "Abstanance (i cant even spell it much less practice it) just doest work" Palin is going to be the spokesperson?!?! REALLY??!? Wow...
You know my mom always told me if you dont have anything nice to say dont say anthing at all... But OMFG REALLY? Bristol "Abstanance (i cant even spell it much less practice it) just doest work" Palin is going to be the spokesperson?!?! REALLY??!? Wow...
9
Tina @7, my mom told me the same thing, but then she'd turn around and just blister the neighbor lady behind her back, so I learned both lessons.
I suppose it is just remotely possible that the traditional hate match between mothers and teenage daughters could end up producing a Bristol Palin who dedicates her life to undoing all the harm that her mom and people like her have done over the years. We've discovered in recent weeks that she's pro-gay-marriage and anti-abstinence; maybe she'll actually help some of these kids keep out of trouble. Maybe she's not a bad person. Bets?
I suppose it is just remotely possible that the traditional hate match between mothers and teenage daughters could end up producing a Bristol Palin who dedicates her life to undoing all the harm that her mom and people like her have done over the years. We've discovered in recent weeks that she's pro-gay-marriage and anti-abstinence; maybe she'll actually help some of these kids keep out of trouble. Maybe she's not a bad person. Bets?
12
After seeing her recent interview, I'm guessing that Bristol Palin is more sensible and likable than her mom (not saying much, I know).
However, looking at the website for Candie's Foundation, it appears they are focused on abstinence education. They mention contraception, but nowhere on their website could I find any information about types of contraception or how to get it. At least they didn't mention the Bible either.
However, looking at the website for Candie's Foundation, it appears they are focused on abstinence education. They mention contraception, but nowhere on their website could I find any information about types of contraception or how to get it. At least they didn't mention the Bible either.
13
@4
You are very perceptive.
Yes, actually.
And then some prankster told be you could catch AIDS licking doorknobs.
Fifty hours of community service later I was a wiser man.
Well.
Ce la Vie!
You are very perceptive.
Yes, actually.
And then some prankster told be you could catch AIDS licking doorknobs.
Fifty hours of community service later I was a wiser man.
Well.
Ce la Vie!
14
I think part of that may be the underlying idea that the girls who don't get pregnant and the guys who don't get aids are just lucky, and that drawing attention to them would reinforce the invincibility complex teenagers tend to have.
15
It's really sad if you watch her early morning appearances to push the "abstinence only" line of thought you can see she has no clue and is simply regurgitating talking points. The fact that she refuses to even address the possibility that using birth control of some form or another might have been enough to prevent her pregnancy is simply pathetic. Of course abstinence is the only 100% guarantee, but birth control still can be and is effective, especially for those kids who are going to have sex. Here's a good tip: if the spokesperson for abstinence (with an outspoken abstinence only mommy) still has sex, chances are "abstinence only" is not a viable tool for reducing pregnancy rates amongst teens. Let's educate them instead on responsibility and consequences, but not expect them to go the abstinence route. Teens make bad decisions about sex all the time, even "good, moral upstanding" teens like Miss Palin, so it becomes the responsibility of adults to teach them how to be safe if they are going to engage not to plug our ears, shut our eyes and pretend that every teenager is waiting.
16
hiya Dan,
I'm a public health student currently addressing issues of teen pregnancy in classes, and I gotta tell ya that you totally hit the nail on the head with this one. I can't speak to the efficacy of that type of HIV education, but it's definitely becoming understood that sending teen moms around to talk about their pregnancies does not get kids to keep their legs closed or wear dem rubbers. At best, these talks are a shitty day for the mom; at worst, they subconsciously glorify teenage motherhood ("look how cute the baby is!")
I'm always impressed when that Savage-common-sense parallels growing approaches in addressing issues of public health. Dan for Sexual Health Czar!!
I'm a public health student currently addressing issues of teen pregnancy in classes, and I gotta tell ya that you totally hit the nail on the head with this one. I can't speak to the efficacy of that type of HIV education, but it's definitely becoming understood that sending teen moms around to talk about their pregnancies does not get kids to keep their legs closed or wear dem rubbers. At best, these talks are a shitty day for the mom; at worst, they subconsciously glorify teenage motherhood ("look how cute the baby is!")
I'm always impressed when that Savage-common-sense parallels growing approaches in addressing issues of public health. Dan for Sexual Health Czar!!
18
This, of course, is part of the spruce-up plan as Palin readies herself for Campaign 2012. She needs to ameliorate all the perceptions of her trailer park past. And by pushing Babymama out into public view and morphing Bristol's teen pregnancy into public service is just the kind of shit that greases their machine. And is there a name more trailer park than Bristol?
Did you see her on Today with her father? She was a pre-programmed robot. So was Dad. She was bouncing Bay-bay on her knee - finger in Bay-bay's mouth - while saying things like, "I'm not going to talk about my personal life."
The only people who are impressed by this are the people who are already in Palin's camp. You know the type - people who think winning a beauty contest is some kind of achievement. Is there anything more irrelevant in this day and age than a beauty pageant?
Got to be careful about the trailer park talk though. She'll turn it around into a "what's-wrong-with-trailer-parks?" kind of thing making her sound like the Savior of the dispossessed. She isn't. She can never be until she commits herself to investing in and thereby helping poor people.
She'd say, "I want to help the poor by creating an environment where they can find work." This means an environment where the very rich gets even richer while more and more struggle making $8/hr - if that. It does wash. It never has.
Did you see her on Today with her father? She was a pre-programmed robot. So was Dad. She was bouncing Bay-bay on her knee - finger in Bay-bay's mouth - while saying things like, "I'm not going to talk about my personal life."
The only people who are impressed by this are the people who are already in Palin's camp. You know the type - people who think winning a beauty contest is some kind of achievement. Is there anything more irrelevant in this day and age than a beauty pageant?
Got to be careful about the trailer park talk though. She'll turn it around into a "what's-wrong-with-trailer-parks?" kind of thing making her sound like the Savior of the dispossessed. She isn't. She can never be until she commits herself to investing in and thereby helping poor people.
She'd say, "I want to help the poor by creating an environment where they can find work." This means an environment where the very rich gets even richer while more and more struggle making $8/hr - if that. It does wash. It never has.
20
But wait, didn't Bristol just say in an interview the other day that abstinence isn't realistic? Oh well. I'm guessing she's pretty easy to reprogram. Those Palins have SD slots in the backs of their heads.
21
@18- "Is there anything more irrelevant in this day and age than a beauty pageant?"
A Bachelor's Degree?
Zing!
A Bachelor's Degree?
Zing!
22
I have to call bullshit on your "you had to be a positive guy to be an HIV educator in the 90s" assertion.
I began working in HIV/AIDS prevention in 1995. Of our entire staff of health educators, perhaps two were HIV+ men. (I'm not HIV+ or male, and I even performed testing in BP and Club Z!) We had several women of all persuasions among us, and straight men as well.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but we weren't all Act Up or Gay City. And while I'm usually on your side with most things- if you really did apply and were not hired, perhaps it was just...you?
I began working in HIV/AIDS prevention in 1995. Of our entire staff of health educators, perhaps two were HIV+ men. (I'm not HIV+ or male, and I even performed testing in BP and Club Z!) We had several women of all persuasions among us, and straight men as well.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but we weren't all Act Up or Gay City. And while I'm usually on your side with most things- if you really did apply and were not hired, perhaps it was just...you?
24
@16 - Dan has been 'caught on film' as saying that he's planning on writing a sex-ed book for the under 18 set.
Hopefully he really is planning it as a future project. Real sex education and advice, things that young people should know as they are becoming sexually aware and active - a resource like that would be excellent,the likes of which are long over-do.
Hopefully he really is planning it as a future project. Real sex education and advice, things that young people should know as they are becoming sexually aware and active - a resource like that would be excellent,the likes of which are long over-do.
25
Head's up! The AP says Bristol has publicly recanted her earlier statement ---- turns out she believes abstinence IS effective. Uh huh.
Particularly when your mom is letting Levi spend the night for, um, study sessions.
(Come on guys, you know the poor girl will not get to say a damn thing that Sarah doesn't vet personally. The earlier interview has taught mom she needs to watch that girl's mouth.)
Particularly when your mom is letting Levi spend the night for, um, study sessions.
(Come on guys, you know the poor girl will not get to say a damn thing that Sarah doesn't vet personally. The earlier interview has taught mom she needs to watch that girl's mouth.)
27
Dan: Your theory fits in with the proverb: "It all depends on whose ox is being gored." There are HIV-infected guys who also advertise for bareback sex. Is that like having skin cancer but still sitting in the sun seeking a deeper tan, he asked rhetorically?
28
For the record: I never applied for a gig working at an AIDS org. It's an informed observation, not sour grapes.
29
Another dumb, right wing, brainwashed c--t. She would rather protect the political career of her dumb, right wing, brainless c--t, mother than save one girl from pregnancy.
30
I have had TONS of sex. I have never had a pregnancy or an STD. Why? I've used condoms, and gotten tested regularly, along with my sex partners.
Apparently, I am not a sex-education role model.
Apparently, I am not a sex-education role model.
31
This sounds a lot like the DARE program where they drag in ex-junkies and alchololics who destroyed their lives to scare kids into not drinking and doing drugs.
32
@ 30,
You also probably used birth control pills. Only sluts use birth control pills! We can't have sluts around our impressionable children! It would give girls the idea they can go out and fuck anybody and not suffer the consequences! They wouldn't value their virginity any longer!
You also probably used birth control pills. Only sluts use birth control pills! We can't have sluts around our impressionable children! It would give girls the idea they can go out and fuck anybody and not suffer the consequences! They wouldn't value their virginity any longer!
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